VIDEO: Seattle library sets off world's largest book domino chain

SEATTLE -- In an effort to promote the launch of a summer reading program, the Seattle Public Library built and then set off what it says is a new world record for the longest book domino chain.

It took a total of seven hours to set up and five tries to get the book dominoes to fall just right, the library said.

The event was held on the third floor of the Central Library downtown. A total of 2,131 books followed a complex pathway that included ramps up and across book stacks, around a large planter in the center of the floor, up and down sets of stairs, bridges and more.

At one point, one book had to fall from a shelf to the floor to continue the book domino chain.

At different locations while the books are dropping, patrons are reading. One woman, for example, looks like she is reading at the beach, while another couple appears to be having a picnic and reading. A portion of the book domino chain spelled the word “read.”

The previous record of a 1,000-book domino chain was achieved by an organization called Responsible Fishing in Britain in 2011.

To video the Library’s world record, five film crew members and seven cameras were used, including a time lapse camera. Twenty-seven volunteers assisted with the setup of books.

Amy Twito, the Library’s youth program manager, said the first attempt happened at about 8:15 p.m.

“When the book chain was making its way around the planter, one book didn’t topple,” Twito said. “We weren’t prepared for that to happen, so when the chain kept going, people starting diving toward the books to stop the chain.”

The book domino chain was a collaborative project between the library and local residents Luke Greenway and Laura D’Asaro. Greenway will be a senior at Middlebury College in the fall, and D'Asaro just graduated from Harvard University.